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Covenant of the Prophets

And remember the time when Allah took a covenant from the people through the Prophets, saying, ‘Whatever I give you of the Book and Wisdom and then there comes to you a Messenger, fulfilling that which is with you, you shall believe in him and help him.’ And He said, ‘Do you agree, and do you accept the responsibility which I lay upon you in this matter?’ They said, ‘We agree.’ He said, ‘Then bear witness and I am with you among the witnesses.’ (Quran 3:82)

In this verse, Allah has mentioned the covenant, which He took from all the prophets and through them from their followers also, regarding acceptance and help of any such prophet who testifies the teachings they already have. Testifying here does not mean mere declaration of truthfulness of the teachings which every believer does, but to fulfill the prophecies mentioned therein. Non-Ahmadi Muslim scholars argue that Hadhrat Muhammad sa is not included in this covenant. Though there is no such indication whatsoever that the Holy Prophet sa is excluded from the term ‘Prophets’ mentioned in this verse, this misconception is cleared by the following verse wherein Allah has specifically mentioned the Holy Prophet sa by addressing him.

And call to mind when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from thee, and from Noah and Abraham, and Moses and Jesus, son of Mary, and We indeed, took from them a solemn covenant; (Quran 33:8)

This verse explains that this covenant was not only taken from the previous prophets but also from the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa. According to this covenant, the Muslim Ummah has been made responsible that whenever a prophet comes to them who testify Islam and believe in the Holy Prophet sa, they have to accept him and support him.

Allah has reminded this “covenant” in the following verse exhorting people to fulfill their promise and believe in the prophet who hasn’t brought a new religion but calling them towards their own God they already believe in.

Why is it that you believe not in Allah, while the Messenger calls you to believe in your Lord, and He has already taken a covenant from you, if indeed you are believers? (Quran 57:9)

The repercussions and consequences of breaking this covenant have been mentioned in the following verse:

And those who break the covenant of Allah, after having established it and cut asunder what Allah has commanded to be joined, and act corruptly in the earth, on them is the curse of Allah and they shall have a grievous abode. (Quran 13:26)

Founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as of Qadian (1835-1908), who claimed to be that Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi whose advent has been foretold by the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet sa, not only testified the truthfulness of Islam, the Holy Prophet sa and the Holy Quran but also the prophecies of the Holy Qur`ān and Hadīth, related to his personality and time are fulfilled.

These prophecies include solar and lunar eclipse in Ramadan; spread of plagues and epidemics; world wars, invention of modern transport system; and linking of oceans etc.

In the light of these exhortations and the injunctions of the Holy Qur`ān, it is our responsibility, being Muslims, that we fulfill the covenant Allāh took from us through the Prophets and not only accept the Promised Messiah as but also help him in spreading the message of Islam world over.